Vibrating toothbrush

Abstract

A vibrating toothbrush is provided with vibration-isolating zones that substantially isolate vibrations in the head and reduce vibrations transmitted to the handle without sacrificing structural integrity around the vibration-isolation zones. Such zones may generally comprise neck material that is reduced in cross-section, thinned, replaced by dampening material, or removed altogether to create transmission-inhibiting voids. The vibration-isolating zones may be further supported by the housing of the vibratory element to maintain the structural integrity around the zones and to thereby alleviate weakness conditions that might subject the toothbrush to fatigue and breakage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An oral care implement comprising:
 a body extending along an axis and having a front side, the body comprising a head having cleaning elements extending therefrom, the front side aligned with the cleaning elements; 
 a mechanical vibratory device located in the body, the mechanical vibratory device including a motor and an eccentric weight that is configured to generate vibrations; and 
 the body comprising an axial portion that is aligned with the mechanical vibratory device and a vibration-reducing section that is at least partially located on the axial portion of the body, a majority of the vibration-reducing section being located on the front side. 
 
     
     
       2. The oral care implement according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the vibration-reducing section of the body is aligned with the motor. 
     
     
       3. The oral care implement according to  claim 1  wherein the vibration-reducing section is formed by the axial portion of the body having a reduced thickness. 
     
     
       4. The oral care implement according to  claim 1  wherein the vibration-reducing section is formed by at least a portion of the axial portion of the body having a reduced transverse cross-sectional area. 
     
     
       5. The oral care implement according to  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises:
 a handle; and 
 a neck disposed between the head and the handle. 
 
     
     
       6. The oral care implement according to  claim 5  wherein the mechanical vibratory device is located in the neck and the vibration reducing section of the body is located along the neck. 
     
     
       7. The oral care implement according to  claim 1  wherein the body comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a cavity within which the mechanical vibratory device is located, and wherein the vibration-reducing section comprises a void space formed into the inner surface of the body along the axial portion of the body. 
     
     
       8. The oral care implement in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the void space is filled with an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       9. An oral care implement comprising:
 a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a front side, the body comprising a head having bristles extending therefrom, the front side aligned with the bristles, an axial portion of the body comprising a cylindrical wall that circumferentially surrounds the longitudinal axis so as to form a cavity; 
 a vibration-generating device positioned within the cavity; and 
 the cylindrical wall having a section of reduced thickness for reducing transmission of vibrations in a first axial direction, a majority of the section of reduced thickness being located on the front side. 
 
     
     
       10. The oral care implement according to  claim 9  wherein the section of reduced thickness is formed into an interior surface of the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
       11. The oral care implement according to  claim 9 , wherein the section of reduced thickness defines a void that is filled with an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       12. The oral care implement according to  claim 9  wherein the vibration-generating device comprises a motor and an eccentric weight, and wherein the section of reduced thickness is axially aligned with the motor.